Transaction choice selection apparatus and system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and system for casting votes electronically comprises both a host server and a plurality of voting machines at various remote locations. First “user identifying information” for a plurality of potential users who are registered to use the system is pre-stored in memory, either at the host server or at a voting machine, or both. Second “user identifying information” is entered by a user of the voting machine at the time the user wishes to vote. A display on the voting machine presents to the user voting information concerning at least one voting matter for which the user is to make a voting selection. A processor in either the host server or the voting machine, or both, compares the second user identifying information entered by the user of the voting machine with the first user identifying information, if any, previously stored in memory. The user of the voting machine is authorized to make a voting selection on the voting matter if the first and second user identifying information relating to this user are substantially similar. When a voting selection is made by an authorized user of the voting machine, the processor in the host server counts it as a vote. In this way, only users authorized to cast a vote are allowed to vote and the voting selections from all such authorized users who cast a vote are counted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No,11/595,655 filed Nov. 9, 2006, and application Ser. No. 12/157,469 filedJun. 11, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No 8,233,672).

This application also claims priority from the Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/208,844 filed Feb. 27, 2009.

The subject matter of the aforementioned applications is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sophisticated handheld communication systems with ever-increasingcomputational power and communication versatility are becomingincreasing prevalent in the population. Such devices have far greatercapability than that of a simple telephone. Although communication andcomputational systems have been used to obtain samples of populationopinions, the use of such devices to manage various governmentactivities, which heretofore have been delegated to representatives, hasnot been accomplished.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/595,695 presents methods of representativegovernment in which some or all of the power of the electedrepresentatives of the governed people is transferred [back] to thepeople who are allowed to vote directly on government matters. They maydo so by taking a fractional vote away from their representatives, or ingovernment formats in which the direct voters represent a third branchof the legislature, or a fourth branch of the government. Besides theGovernment of the United States of America, such methods are applicableto the governments of individual states, or smaller regions such ascounties and municipalities. Such methods are also applicable to othercountries, to alliances/groups of countries, to the United Nations, orto other government and non-government organizations with world-widemembership.

The disclosure herein describes apparatus for giving voters directaccess to the management of a government.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The material herein includes apparatus and a system for effectuating thedirect voting which is the subject of Ser. No. 11/595,655 “Governmentsystems in which individuals vote directly and in which representativesare partially or completely replaced” including:

1) Apparatus and system which allows for voter registration for theaforementioned government systems;

2) Apparatus and system which allows for voter identification at thetime a vote is cast, for the aforementioned government systems;

3) Apparatus and system which allows for troubleshooting in the event ofan apparently failed voter identification, at the time of a vote;

4) Apparatus and system which allows a voter to vote electronicallyusing virtually any communication system including a telephone (cellularor otherwise), a home computer, or even a pay telephone, as long as itis outfitted with/attached to suitable voter identification means; and

5) Apparatus and system which allows a user to

-   -   a) propose legislation;    -   b) nominate candidates; and    -   c) discuss an election or other legislative issue remotely.

Such apparatus and system are of potential use for the government of acountry, a state, a county, a municipality, a village, etc. They are ofpotential use for the government of other entities including:

1) a corporation; and

2) the United Nations, or a similar body with international scope.

Hereinbelow, voting refers to a situation in which more than oneperson's view is taken into account, in an arithmetically predeterminedmanner, in making a decision. The decision may involve two or moreoptions. The information given by the voter may:

A) be as simple as a single “yes” vs. “no”;

B) involve a choice among two or more options in which a single mostdesirable option is selected by the voter;

C) involve a choice amount three or more options in which anhierarchical preference list is indicated by the voter (e.g. “X” is thefirst choice, “Z” is the second choice, and “Y” is the third choice);

D) involve the transmission, by a voter, of information which is morecomplex than a choice (e.g. a choice plus a statement which contains thereason for the choice); and

E) involve multiple choices by a voter (e.g. voting on each of a numberof different pieces of legislation).

The invention described herein also describes an apparatus and systemfor setting up a web site that allows for the execution of theaforementioned methods and formats. A registration process and useridentification equipment assures the identity of users (includingvoters, administrators, individuals who provide information for votersand administrators, watchdogs/regulators, etc.) of the system. A personwho wishes to vote signs onto the website and reads/reviews thelegislative matter. If the potential voter wishes to obtain additionalinformation (e.g. summary, commentary, voter debate, legislator debate,reference material, etc.), he may obtain this information via thewebsite. Optionally, before voting, the voter may be tested to assurethat he/she understands the matter on which he/she is voting. The voterthen votes. The votes may be counted in a variety of ways including asimple total, or more complex counts based on State, Representativedistrict or other criteria.

The voting information, with or without additional voter information,may be made available to legislators, the President and other executivesand others in executive branches, various news media, and, possiblylobbyists and other private organizations.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the names of individualvoters would not be disclosed. In an embodiment of the invention inwhich such names are disclosed, preferably the voting choices of thesevoters would not be disclosed.

Among the ways of generating a profit are a) by the lease or sale ofinformation obtained during the voting process, or during the testingprocess, or during non-confidential chat sessions, b) by advertising, c)by sale of a company which maintains such a website, or by leasing theservices of such a company or by any other contractual arrangement withsuch a company for the purpose of providing information about voterchoices, d) by allowing lobbyists to use the website, and e) by allowingeducational institutions to use the website.

The larger dividend of the apparatus and system described herein is thatit provides apparatus and methods to allow the will and preferences ofvoters to be known in substantially real time, and it provides easy,secure access whereby large numbers of people may actively participatedirectly in their government.

When syntax or sentence structure calls for a pronoun hereinbelow, themale pronoun has been selected, for convenience and no other reason.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voting system illustrating a votingmachine, and a central computational/communication device forcommunicating with voting machines.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a voting system.

FIG. 3 is a representational diagram of apparatus for determining a userchoice and a biologic identifier of the user.

FIG. 4A is a representational diagram of apparatus for determining auser choice and a biologic identifier of the user.

FIG. 4B is a representational diagram of apparatus for determining auser choice via keyboard and a biologic identifier of the user.

FIG. 4C is a representational diagram of apparatus for determining auser choice via keyboard as seen from below and a biologic identifier ofthe user.

FIG. 4D is another representational diagram of apparatus for determininga user choice and a biologic identifier of the user.

FIG. 4E is a representational diagram of apparatus for determining auser choice a biologic identifier of the user, and a biologic identifierof a witness to the user choice.

FIG. 4F is a representational diagram of apparatus for imaging each of awitness, a biologic identifier of the witness, and a remote user of thevoting system.

FIG. 4G is a representational diagram of apparatus for imaging each of awitness, a biologic identifier of the witness, and a remote user of thevoting system, in a single image.

FIG. 4H is a representational diagram of apparatus for determining auser choice and a biologic identifier of the user, for use with one or aplurality of users.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the use of a voting system forregistering users of the system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the use of a voting system inwhich user identification is verified at a central location.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the use of a voting system inwhich user identification is verified at a voting machine.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the use of a voting system inwhich individual voters as well as voter representatives may vote.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the use of a voting system inwhich voter identification and vote confirmation occur.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a registration requirement for aperson who wishes to register other persons in a voting system.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a registration requirement for aperson who wishes to vote in a voting system.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a registration requirement for aperson who wishes to manage data and/or a website in a voting system.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a registration requirement for aperson who wishes to contribute to a website in a voting system.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a registration requirement for aperson who wishes to discuss a voting matter on a website-based votingsystem.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a registration requirement for aperson who wishes to collect voting system information in a votingsystem.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a basic votingsystem.

FIG. 17 is a representational diagram of a computer and/or communicationdevice screen allowing the user to engage in remote participation in avoting system.

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a voting system withadditional user options.

FIG. 19 is a representational diagram illustrating the positioning of aportion of a voting system within a secure perimeter, and the control ofaccess to the inside of the secure perimeter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1-19 of the drawings. Identical elements in thevarious figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

The Core System

FIG. 1 shows apparatus which lets a voter vote from a location which isremote from the location at which votes are counted, and which may beused in a government system with direct voters, as described in Ser. No.11/595,655.

A ballot or other document which indicates the choices from which thevoter makes his selection (hereinbelow each referred to as “ballot”) isinputted at input device 100 to voting central computation/communicationdevice (“VCCD”) 102. VCCD 102 sends the ballot information to aplurality of voter computation/communication devices (“VCDs”) 104, eachof which displays the information at display device 106.

Examples of 102, 104 pairs include:

A) two devices capable of direct communication via radiofrequency;

B) devices which communicate over a public communications network, suchas a telephone system, wherein 104 is a personalcomputation/communication device such as a telephone or other moresophisticated personal computation/communication device (e.g. aBlackberry®, as is known in the art);

C) 104 is a computer and 102 is another computer or a server, with 104and 102 communicating over the internet; and

D) devices which communication over a private communications network.

One or more links between 102 and 104 may be hard-wired, may beinfrared, optical, acoustic or microwave. 106 may include or besubstituted with an output device such as a printer.

After reviewing the ballot, the voter may enter his choice or choicesvia input device(s) 108. Examples of 108 include:

A) a keyboard;

B) a touch sensitive screen (including devices which combine touchsensitive and fingerprint scanning technology, as discussedhereinbelow);

C) hardware which allows for the direct inputting of handwriting;

D) a speech recognition device; and

E) one or more switches which are dedicated to inputting a voter choice.

The voter choice is transmitted by the route 108 to 104 to 102, andafter decoding and signal processing as is known in the art, is inputtedto vote counter 110 and is optionally displayed and printed out bydevice 112. Clock 114 allows date and time stamping of the vote, andallows for the counting of only those votes which are submitted duringthe time interval allocated for voting.

The voter may submit information in addition to or instead of a vote,such as comments on an issue to be voted on, via 108 (either the same108 device which inputs votes, or a different input device), which thentraverses the route 108 to 104 to 102 to 116 where the information maybe displayed and/or printed out. By doing this, the voter may have adialog with one or more persons (e.g. with elected legislators, or witha representative who specifically represents direct voters [as discussedin Ser. No. 11/595,655])

A) at the voting central station; or

B) at a terminal linked to the voting central station. The VCCD to VCDarm of the dialog would be 100 to 102 to 104 to 106.

Embodiments of the invention are possible in which 104, 106 and 108 area single device—such as a cellular telephone. Embodiments of theinvention in which there is a single 104 (or 104/106/108) for each voterare possible, as are embodiments in which a single 104 (or 104/106/108)serves multiple voters.

A more detailed diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown in FIG. 2

FIG. 2 shows another schematic view of a voting system. Server 210communicates with a plurality of voting machines (one of which is shownin the FIG. 200. Each voting machine has a processor 204, a memory 206and a communication device 202 for communicating with a communicationdevice 212 in the server. Communication may be via the internet 230, bya wireless network 240 (which may be, for example, a public telephonesystem, a private telephone system, a radiofrequency link, etc.), or bya hardwired connection 250 (either public or private).

The voting machine is outfitted with output devices including a displaydevice 214 for displaying voting choices (e.g. names of candidates,matters to be voted on, entire pieces of legislation, backgroundmaterials, debate/discussion related matters, etc.). Other miscellaneousoutput devices 216 include a loudspeaker and a printer.

Voting machine input devices 218 include a keyboard for inputting avoting choice, or for inputting (a) proposed legislation, (b) discussionand debate, (c) voter identifying information, (d) text identifyinginformation for other users of the voting machine (e.g. registrationperson, a witness, etc), and (e) the answers to one or more questionsthat test the voter's understanding of the matter to be voted upon. Anadvantage of such a test, is that it may avoid legislators and theirconstituents voting on excessively lengthy matters that they have notread. Another advantage is that it makes the act of voting harder tohack.

Other voting machine input devices include:

-   -   (i) one or more cameras for imaging a voter, a registration        person, and/or a witness;    -   (ii) a microphone for voice input, for recording a voiced vote,        for recording a voiceprint, for recording an affirmation by a        witness or a registration person, etc.;    -   (iii) a device which may process a human tissue sample, for the        identification of the DNA or RNA of a person using the machine;    -   (iv) the display device, which may be touch sensitive; and    -   (v) one or more switches, which may indicate yes/no responses        (or which may have more than two switch configurations) for a        voter, a registration person or a witness.

The server processor 211 is coupled to each of:

-   -   (i) the server memory 213,    -   (ii) the server communication device 212,    -   (iii) input devices, collectively 222, and    -   (iv) output devices, collectively 220.

The server has a variety of possible output devices 220 including avideo monitor, a printer, and a loudspeaker. Input devices 222 for theserver including a keyboard, one or more cameras, a microphone, a touchsensitive screen, switches and a tissue sample processor, foridentifying users of the server, at the server location.

The server may access other servers through the internet (shown in thefigure) or through one of the other communication modalities. Such otherservers may include databases which contain identifying information forusers of the system; informational websites for providing informationconcerning matters to be voted on; discussion sites, allowing voters,voters' representatives and others to discuss a matter to be voted on,and archival sites to preserve digital evidence of the legitimacy of avote, an election, etc.

The printer at either site may produce a confirmation that a vote wasproperly entered and counted, or in the case of a non-counted vote, mayproduce an output indicating the non-counted event, and the reason forthe non-count. Alternatively, a digital confirmation may be produced,i.e. as an email, a text message, a message on a secure website, etc.

Voter Eligibility, Registration and Identification

A system is necessary which allows identification of a person desiringto vote to ensure that

A) only eligible voters cast a vote, and

B) no eligible voter votes more than once.

(It is not Necessary that all Eligible Voters Vote.)

Eligibility to vote on legislative issues may depend on a variety ofcriteria including, for example, age and permanent address. In the caseof a voting system which involves stock ownership, eligibility maydepend on the class of shares owned (and it may be necessary to verifythe number of shares owned). Eligibility may be established either:

A) at the time voting is to take place, or

B) in advance of a vote.

The latter is especially desirable if voting is to be a recurringprocess.

Registration is the process of matching the name of an eligiblepotential voter, with an identifying feature (“identifier”) of thatvoter, such that the identifier may be used at the time of a vote todetermine that the person who desires to vote is indeed the sameeligible voter that he claims to be. Examples of a registration processwould be:

A) filing a picture known to be that of the registrant, at the time ofregistration. Examples of such a picture are those from a driver'slicense or passport;

B) filing a signature known to be that of the registrant, at the time ofregistration. Examples of a signature are those from either of adriver's license or passport, a notarized signature, or a digitalsignature;

C) filing a fingerprint;

D) filing a DNA sample;

E) filing another biological marker such as a voiceprint, a retinalpattern, an iris pattern, etc.; and

F) combinations of A)-E).

Identifiers may be stored:

A) at a location remote from the voter's location;

B) at the voter's location; or

C) at both the voter's location and at a remote location.

At the time of a vote, the person desiring to vote proves that he is theperson that he claims to be by being able to generate an identical ornearly identical copy of the identifier. If he can do so, his vote iscounted; if he can not, the vote is not counted. This process is showndiagrammatically and is discussed hereinbelow.

FIG. 3 shows an example of apparatus which may be used in:

A) the registration process;

B) the voting process; or

C) both A) and B).

In the registration process, person 300 who can provide proof of hisname, places one or more fingers on 302 (at which time the boxescontaining the words “yes” and “no” are absent) which scans thefingerprint pattern. When scanning is complete, the fingerprint patternand the person's name are entered into a database; the entry indicatesthe association of the fingerprint pattern and the name. Alternativeembodiments include embodiments in which:

A) other alphanumeric data relating to the registrant are also enteredinto the database, such as one or more of:

-   -   1) the home address;    -   2) the social security number;    -   3) one or more telephone numbers; and    -   4) one or more email addresses; and/or

B) other biologic data (either in addition to the aforementionedfingerprint or instead of them) is identified and entered into thedatabase. Visually identifiable biologic data include:

-   -   1) fingerprints of other fingers;    -   2) palm prints;    -   3) a detailed view of the person's face; In the figure, video        camera 304C is used for such recording;    -   4) a voiceprint; and    -   5) iris and/or retinal patterns.

Various methods of entering fingerprint patterns into the database maybe employed, and will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

When the apparatus in FIG. 3 is used in the voting process, screen 302may have touch sensitive features, with the capability of recording avoter choice based on the position of the voter's finger on the surfaceof the screen. The image recorded by camera 304C confirms that the voteris the person that he claims to be, i.e. that the person who is votingis the person who is then supplying the fingerprint. Fingerprintscanning may take place directly through the touch sensitive screen, ormay involve a finger immediately adjacent to the screen. For example,

-   -   in the case of a “no” vote, the right index finger may be used        to touch box 303 marked “no” and the right middle finger may be        used to touch fingerprint scanning screen 306; and    -   in the case of a “yes” vote, the left index finger may be used        to touch box 3031 marked “yes” and the left middle finger may be        used to touch fingerprint scanning screen 308.        An additional video camera 304B may be placed behind and        somewhat to the side of (or above) person 300, in order to        simultaneously visualize the person and the screen. The purpose        of the second camera would be to provide additional security for        either the registration or the voting process. Yet another        camera, 304A, may serve to input an image including (a) the        voter's face and his finger touching the box corresponding to        his voting choice in a single image, (b) the voter's fingerprint        and his finger touching the box corresponding to his voting        choice in a single image, (c) the voter's face, fingerprint and        finger indicating the voting choice, and (d) either (a) or (c)        along with a view of the voter's torso (all in a single image),        in order to show that the hand and face belong to the same        individual. Embodiments with even larger numbers of cameras are        possible.

Alternate embodiments of the invention involve apparatus which isanalogous to that shown in FIG. 2 but with an alternate biologic markerother than fingerprints. One example would be a DNA sample. The presenceof video cameras would assure that, at the time of voting, the persongiving the sample is the same as the person who is the source ofinformation.

FIG. 4A shows another example of apparatus which may be used in:

A) the registration process;

B) the voting process; or

C) both A) and B).

In the registration process, person 400 signs his name on 402. 402 mayrepresent:

A) a transparent or semi-transparent surface which allows the signatureto be recorded by video camera 404;

B) a touch sensitive screen with enough resolution to provide a goodquality copy of the signature;

C) a paper which, when used in conjunction with pen 406 containingindelible ink, results in a non-erasable signature which may then bescanned into a computer (using a scanner, as is known in the art, notshown in the figure); or

D) other devices for converting signatures to a permanent, storablerecord, as are familiar to those skilled in the art.

When scanning is complete, the signature and the person's name areentered into a database; the entry indicates the association of thesignature and the name. Alternative embodiments include embodiments inwhich:

A) other alphanumeric data relating to the registrant are also enteredinto the database, such as one or more of:

-   -   1) the home address;    -   2) the social security number;    -   3) one or more telephone numbers; and    -   4) one or more email addresses; and/or;

B) other biologic data is also inputted into the database. Visuallyidentifiable biologic data include:

-   -   1) fingerprints of one or more fingers;    -   2) palm prints;    -   3) a detailed view of the person's face; In the figure, video        camera 404 is used for such recording;    -   4) a voiceprint; and    -   5) iris and/or retinal patterns.        When the apparatus in FIG. 4A is used in the voting process,        screen 402 may have

A) touch sensitive features, with the capability of recording a voterchoice based on either

-   -   1) the position of the voter's finger; or    -   2) the position of a stylus held by the voter touching the        surface of the screen; and

B) the capacity to input the signature of voter 400.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, screen 402 may serve tocapture the identifying signature and screen 408 may function:

A) as a conventional computer screen, showing the ballot, with choicesselected using conventional point-and-click technology (mouse driven,keyboard driven or other options known in the art); or

B) as a touch sensitive screen which shows the ballot and allows forentry of the voter choice.

An image recorded by camera 404, if screen 402 is transparent, confirmsthat the voter is the person that he claims to be. An additional videocamera 410 may be placed behind and, if necessary, somewhat to the sideof (or above) person 400, and may be pointed at mirror 412. With properplacement of 410 and 412, and proper angulation of 412, camera 410 mayvisualize one or more of:

A) screen 408;

B) the signature of voter 400 on 402; and

C) the face of voter 400.

Embodiments with larger or smaller numbers of cameras are possible.

The apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4A may also be used in situations otherthan voting in which it is of great importance to know with a highdegree of certainty the identity of a person who is sending orexchanging information from a remote location. Such situations includebut are not limited to signing contracts and other legal documents,making purchases, funds transfers, and the exchange of medical, legal,political or financial information.

Since even biologic data (e.g. facial features) may be altered, itshould be clear that the greater the number of simultaneously monitoredbiologic features, the less the chance of deceiving the person orinstitution that receives the information.

FIG. 4B shows a version of the apparatus similar to that shown in FIG.4A, except that writing surface/touch sensitive screen 402 has beenreplaced by keyboard 420. All of the specification in conjunction withFIG. 4A is applicable to the apparatus shown in FIG. 4B. If 420 is aconventional keyboard, then keyboard entries will not be seen fromcamera 404; They will be viewable from 410, with a proper geometricarrangement of 410, 408 and 412, as discussed hereinabove.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a largely transparentkeyboard could be used for 420. This would facilitate 404 observing theface of 400.

Furthermore, a keyboard in which the key surfaces are largelytransparent—shown in FIG. 4C—would allow simultaneous observation ofboth:

a) the user's fingerprint, and

b) the sequence of selected keystrokes.

In the figure, camera 404 is positioned underneath keyboard 420 to showboth fingerprints and keystrokes in each image.

FIG. 4D shows an example of apparatus similar to that of FIG. 4A, withthe addition of ceiling mounted camera 430. The purpose of the overheadcamera is to simultaneously visualize both the face of the user and thewriting itself. The camera need not be ceiling mounted, and could be ina variety of locations. The individual need not be writing, and could beusing either a keyboard or a touch sensitive screen.

FIG. 4E shows the same apparatus as that of FIG. 4A with the addition ofa witness 448. In one version, the witness functions as a conventionalwitness, i.e. he may sign a document indicating that he witnessed thewriting by person 440. In another version, he may, exchange places with440, after 440 completes his writing, and the same process (as isdescribed in the specification hereinabove in conjunction with theapparatus shown in FIG. 4A) which records one or more images of 440 maythen record one or more images of witness 448 as he signs indicating hiswitnessing. In conjunction with the aforementioned two versions, thefunctioning of camera 442 is analogous to that of 404 in FIG. 4A, andthe functioning of camera 444 is analogous to that of 410 in FIG. 4A.Preferably person 448 is a person who has previously undergone theregistration process described hereinabove, so that his being anidentifiable witness is established. In a preferred embodiment, anidentifying image of the witness is captured within the same cameraimage as at least one of (i) an identifying image of the writing person440, and (ii) the written material. A variety of camera locations andorientations, and, if desired, mirror location(s) and orientations maybe used to accomplish this task; Cameras 444 and 446 illustrate twopossible camera locations for this task.

In another embodiment of the invention, the witness may be locatedelsewhere, e.g at the central station such as the location of theserver. As shown in FIG. 4F, at that location, the witness 450 may viewa video screen 454 showing the voter casting a vote, and showing,substantially simultaneously, a biologic identifier of the voter. Thewitness may further observe registration information about the voter(either obtained previously or at the same time as the vote), whichindicates that the association between the name of the voter and abiologic identifier of the voter. The witness, having obtainedconvincing evidence that the voter is the person who he claims to be,then affirms the vote—by either a keyboard 452 entry, by writing, or avoice entry. One or more of cameras 456 and 458 may image suchaffirmation for archival purposes. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention, all of this information is stored digitally, in eachcomponent in association. For example, one computer file may beconstructed which contains all of (a) the name of the voter and othervoter demographic and/or text identifiers (e.g. address, social securitynumber), (b) a biologic identifier of the voter (e.g. face orfingerprint), (c) the voter's vote, (d) the name of the witness andother witness demographic and/or text identifiers, and (e) a biologicidentifier of the witness, such as an image of an identifiable bodypart. In one embodiment of the invention, all of these items may bestored on either a write-once-only medium, or in multiple locations (atleast one of which is one of (i) the voting machine and (ii) a centralcomputer or server), suitably encrypted by methods and means known inthe art, to maximize security.

FIG. 4G shows another embodiment of the invention in which the witness460 is located remotely from the voter. A video camera images the voterin the process of voting (such that the voters vote and a biologicidentifier are visible in the same image) and displays that image forthe witness on screen 464. The witness affirms his observations of thevoting event, either by keyboard 462, voice or writing. Camera 466inputs a video image from below, as described in the case shown fro FIG.4F. Camera 468, oriented so that it records both the contents of screen464 showing the voter in action and 465, a reflective portion of thescreen showing the face of the witness 460, records within a singleimage both the witness observing the voter vote, and the voter voting.Storage of the data is as described hereinabove in conjunction with FIG.4F.

FIG. 4H shows a person 470 who may be either a witness, a voter, aregistration person or other person using the system to be reliablyidentified. He is recording a vote (in the case of a voter) or otherwritten statement which is to be archived on 473 (which, alternativelymay be substituted by a keyboard). Random noise generator 471 generatesa pattern of “snow” which is shown on both screens 472 and 475. Camera476 images the face of the person and screen 475; while camera 474images the written material and screen 472. Since a high resolutionimage of each screen, acquired in a very short time, is expected toprovide a level of detail that would be very difficult to “forge”,because of the random pattern of the visualized noise, the pair ofimages (one showing the vote/witness affirmation/registration, and oneshowing the face of the person) may be considered to have been acquiredsimultaneously. Furthermore, a second pair of such images—so that thereis one pair for the voter, and one pair for the witness, would provide acomposite file of the witnessed voting event. Furthermore, if adjustmentis made for the delays in signal propagation from the noise generator,the same noise image (displayed for both parties) could be employed fortwo individuals located in separate locations. In such a case, the noisegenerator could be at the location of either one (with aforementionedcompensatory delay for the near image), or the generator could besituated between the two locales, such that the propagation delay fromthe generator site to each of the witness locale and the voter localeare the same or very similar.

FIG. 5 shows apparatus which allows for a number of differentregistration formats. Hereinbelow, “ID.” refers to a stored copy of twoitems for identifying the same person (e.g. name and fingerprint; nameand signature; name and picture).

Format 1: Registration at a registration station (“RS”); only one copyof registrant's ID. allowed.

In Format 1, the eligible voter, is physically present at the RS, andenters his identifier (e.g. fingerprint, signature, facial picture,etc.) at that time, into ID. database 482 via ID. input device 480. Thisdatabase entry is then the only copy of the registrant's identifier, inthe system. Later, when the registrant votes, the registrant's vote iscertified by one of three approaches:

A) The ID. database remains at the RS. When the registrant votes, thevote is processed at the RS (in the same manner as it is processed inconjunction with the description of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 andpresented hereinbelow);

B) The ID. database 482 is physically transported from the RS to avoting central station, and utilized as described in the description ofthe apparatus described FIG. 6 and presented hereinbelow.

C) The ID. database 482 is physically transported from the RS to theregistrant's remote voting apparatus, and utilized as described in thedescription of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 and presented hereinbelow.

In order to avoid tampering with a transported ID. database [cases B andC hereinabove], the data within the database may be stored in awrite-once-only system such as an EPROM, an EEPROM, or other suchsystems as are known to those skilled in the art.

Format 2: Registration at a RS; more than one copy of registrant's ID.allowed.

In Format 2, the eligible voter, is physically present at the RS, andenters his identifier (e.g. fingerprint, signature, facial picture,etc.) at that time, into ID. database 482 via ID. input device 480.However, additional copies of the registration information may be madeand transmitted (or transported) to one or more of:

A) the voting central station (via the route 482 to registration centralcomputation/communication device 484 to 486); and/or

B) the voter's remote station (“VRS”) via the route 482 to 484 to 490 to496.

Triggering the ID. transmission from the 482 to other locations may be:

A) automatic, upon entry of the ID. into 482;

B) performed automatically in response to a properly formatted request,which is transmitted from either the VRS or the voting central station;

C) only transmitted after authorization by a human.

In one such embodiment, optional human 488 (i) receives such a requestvia 484 to 488, and, if transmission of the ID. is appropriate, (ii)signals both 482 and 484 to enable such a transmission. (Embodiments inwhich only one of 482 or 484 is signaled are possible.)Format 3: Registration using ID. sources other than the actualregistrant.

In Format 3, the ID. information comes to the RS from an outside source494 other than the registrant at a remote site (the latter being Formats4 and 5 hereinbelow). An example would be a teacher registrationdatabase which contains teachers' fingerprint records. The record couldbe imported via the route 494 to 484 to 482. The request to release therecord could come directly from the eligible voter wishing to registeror from the human in the RS, 488 to 484 to 494, after an authorizationto obtain the ID. information from the eligible voter.

Alternatively (or in addition to the above), the ID. may be importedinto the VRS database 496 along the route 486 to 484 to 490 to 496 (withor without notification of 488 and with or without the permission of488). A route for this task which directly links 486 and 490 (not via484, and not shown in the figure) is also possible.

Format 4: Registration at a remote station, without transmission of ID.at time of registration.

Although possible in principle, this format would have limited or no usefor government systems, unless a local or widespread (national orinternational) standardized identification system was in place. ID.transmission is unnecessary in this circumstance because, with such astandardized identification system in place, everyone covered by such asystem would essential be pre-registered.

Format 4 is also workable for shareholder voting. In this circumstance,the corporation would notify the shareholder of the date, time,mechanism for vote transmission and means of identification at the timeof transmission. One could argue that this circumstance is, inprinciple, indistinguishable from Format 2, because registration couldbe considered to have occurred at the RS at the time of stock purchase.

Format 5: Registration at a remote station, with transmission of ID. attime of registration.

Like Format 4, this format also has limited usefulness because of thedifficulty in verifying that the registrant is the person that theyclaim to be. Although various mechanisms for accomplishing this task maybe performed using the apparatus in FIG. 4, these mechanisms can not beconsidered to be as foolproof (in terms of preventing unauthorizedvoting by one person who has stolen the ID. of another person) as thoseof Formats 1, 2 and 6.

Format 5/Approach 1—simple ID. transmission:

In this Approach, the voter ID. is simply inputted at the VRS at 492,and then:

-   -   (i) transmitted by 490 to 484 and then entered into database        482; or    -   (ii) transmitted by 490 to 484 and then entered into database        482; and directly entered into database 496 (with or without        notification of 488 and with or without the permission of 488);        or    -   (iii) transmitted from 492 to 490 to 484, then entered into        database 482, and then (either automatically, or at the command        of 488) entered into the remote station ID. database 496, along        the route 482 to 484 to 490 to 496.        Format 5/Approach 2—ID. transmission with ID. confirmation using        another ID. source:

In this Approach:

-   -   Step A) the voter ID. is inputted at the VRS at 492, transmitted        by 490 to 484 and then temporarily entered into database 482.    -   Step B) Human 488 must then confirm the ID. by obtaining        confirming information about the potential registrant's ID. from        another ID. source of information: 488 to 484 to 494 to 484 to        488.    -   Step C) Human 488 then obtains the version of the voter ID.        which was transmitted from 492 and is stored temporarily in 482,        and compares it to the version obtained from 494. If the two        versions are a reasonable match, then the human may convert the        temporary entry of the ID. in 482 to a permanent one.

An alternate embodiment of Format 5/Approach 2 would, in step A), havethe voter ID transmitted from 492 to 490 to 484 to 488. If the humanfinds a satisfactory match of the two versions of the ID. in step C), hethen enters the ID. into database 482.

Still other alternate embodiments of Format 5/Approach 2 involve thestorage of the ID. (which was inputted at 492, and confirmed using 486):

-   -   (i) only in 496, the remote station ID. database; or    -   (ii) in both 496 and 482.        Format 6: Registration at Voting Central Station (“VCS”)

This format will be inconvenient, unless the voters are distributed overa geographically small area, in the vicinity of the VCS. This Format hasthe advantage of the greatest level of security, in that two steps inthe registration process, during which security may be comprised, havebeen eliminated:

-   -   A) in the transmission (or transportation) of the ID. from the        RS to the VCS, and    -   B) in the transmission of the ID. to the RS (if this step is        part of the chosen format).

FIG. 6 shows apparatus within a voting central station at which voteridentification takes place at the time of a vote. The apparatus:

-   -   A) receives votes and identification from individual voters at        remote locations;    -   B) verifies that the voter was previously properly registered;    -   C) verifies that the voter is the person who he says he is;    -   D) provides optional human intervention, in the voter        identification process: and    -   E) provides an output consisting of a list of the counted votes        which support each ballot choice, for each election (i.e.        candidate, proposition or other voted upon issue).

At the time of an election, the voter inputs:

-   -   A) his choice, via input device 500; and    -   B) his identification (e.g. fingerprint pattern, signature,        picture) via 502.        In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the information is        formatted, encoded and optionally encrypted (each step using        techniques that are familiar to those skilled in the art). It is        then transmitted from 504 at the VRS to 506 at the VCS. The        information is then decrypted (if it had been encrypted), and        decoded. ID. checking apparatus 508 then compares the ID.        outputted from 506 with the ID. stored in database 510. If the        ID. properly matches, the vote output [indicating the voter's        choice(s)] from 506 is certified by 512 and formatted for        outputting as counted direct votes 514.

Database 510 ID. information is supplied by either:

-   -   A) transmission of the ID. information from the RS;    -   B) transportation of the ID. information from the RS; or    -   C) directly, if the voter registers at the VCS.

Each of 508, 510 and 512 may be or may be executed by:

-   -   A) one or more computers; and/or    -   B) part of a computer (including one or more microprocessors, or        part of a microprocessor).        Two or more of 508, 510 and 512 may be or may be part of the        same computer or the same microprocessor.

In the event of an ID. check at the time of a vote, which does not yielda proper match, the results may be submitted to optional human 516 forfurther assessment. In alternate embodiments of the invention, human 516may, at the time of a vote, check:

-   -   A) all ID.s;    -   B) only borderline matches (and not grossly mismatched ID.s);    -   C) all mismatches and a sample of proper matches; or    -   D) all borderline mismatches and a sample of proper matches.

As shown in FIG. 6, two of the elements of the VRS, 500 and 504, may bepart of a telephone or personal computer. The third element, ID. inputdevice 502 may be a part of some telephones and some personal computers(e.g. a video camera). The apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A-4Hrepresent a high degree of identification certainty; That apparatus maybe linked to a telephone or computer to assemble the VRS (500 plus 504plus 502) shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, less sophisticated ID. inputdevices may be acceptable. In summary, a VRS with the architecture shownin FIG. 6 could be assembled/built from (i) either a mobile telephone, apersonal computer, a hybrid handheld device (i.e. one which hascapabilities of a computer and a telephone) and (ii) a user ID. inputdevice (if such ID. device is not part of the telephone/computer (i)).

FIG. 7 shows apparatus within a VRS at which voter identification takesplace.

The VRS ID. database 600 receives its information, as indicated above inthe specification associated with FIG. 4. At the time that theregistered voter wishes to vote, he inputs his vote via 602, and hisidentifier via 604. The identifier is compared with the data in 600; Ifthere is a match (or if the degree of matching exceeds a previouslydetermined threshold), then the vote is passed by 606 to 608, and thento 610. After decryption (if encryption occurred prior to transmission),decoding and processing, a list of direct voter votes and the choices towhich they correspond, 612, becomes available.

If 606 finds a non-match, it rejects the vote, and may notify theoptional human 614 in the VCS along the route 606 to 608 to 610 to 614.

The VRS in FIG. 7 consists of elements 600, 602, 604, 606 and 608.Analogous to the discussion in conjunction with FIG. 6 hereinabove, 602and 608 may be part of a telephone, part of a personal computer, or partof a hybrid device with both functions. In order to build a VRS with thearchitecture shown in FIG. 7, the requirements would be (i) either acell/mobile telephone or personal computer, (ii) a user ID. inputdevice, and (iii) an ID. database and checking device. The items in(iii) could easily be incorporated into a personal computer; a telephonewith adequate memory capacity would also accommodate them. The ID.device whether camera, microphone or both are easily incorporated orstandard phone features.

FIG. 8 shows apparatus in a VCS for doing the computations required fordirect voter voting in a representational government system, asdiscussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/595,655.

Counted and verified votes 700 are the output 514 of the apparatus shownin FIG. 6 (and the output 612 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7). Thesevotes are inputted into computational device 702 (which may be one ormore computers, servers, parts of a computer, parts of a server, or oneor more microprocessors or a part of a microprocessor).

In a government system in which each direct vote carries an equalweight, the votes are simply summed.

In government systems in which

-   -   A) elected representatives vote, serving as the proxy for voters        who do not directly vote on a legislative issue, and    -   B) direct voters vote on the legislative issue, a more complex        computation is required (discussed in Ser. No. 11/595,655). The        computation requires    -   A) inputting the representative votes 704, and    -   B) inputting information about the population of each voting        district 706.        Following the appropriate arithmetic processing (as discussed in        Ser. No. 11/595,655), 702 outputs its results to device 708        which may be a display device, another computer or server (with        or without Internet interface), a printer, and/or a        communication device.

The architecture for a system which may be used for countingshareholder-determined votes is analogous to that of FIG. 8. In theshareholder voting version:

-   -   700 remains the direct voter votes;    -   706 is replaced by information which includes:        -   A) the number of shares each shareholder owns; and        -   B) the class of each share, when there is more than one            class of stock;    -   704 is replaced by:        -   A) the votes of those persons physically present at a            shareholder meeting and        -   B) proxy votes assigned to those physically present at a            shareholder meeting. Embodiments of the invention in which            proxy votes may be voted by direct voters are also possible.

FIG. 8 also shows that in a preferred embodiment of the invention, theapparatus at the VCS, after counting a direct vote, generates aconfirmation message 710 for the voter, indicating that the vote wascounted, and preferably confirming that the direct voter's choice(s)was/were properly recorded. The confirmation message is transmitted fromthe voting central computation/communication device 712 to the votercomputation/communication device 714.

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram for the operation of the apparatus shown inFIGS. 1-7. Following the registration 800 of an eligible voter whowishes to vote by direct voting, a ballot is sent to the direct voter,block 802, when a government decision must be made. There may beadditional information exchanged between the VCS and the VRS including:

-   -   A) educational/background material concerning the voting        decision(s) to be made;    -   B) discrepancies, if any, concerning the acceptability of the        direct voter's ID; and    -   C) voter questions about procedural issues related to the use of        the direct voting system.

Next the voter makes his voting choice(s), block 806, and submits theinformation about the choice(s), block 808, and the identifyinginformation which was inputted at the time of his voting, which ischecked, block 810.

If the check reveals that the identification is proper, block 812 toblock 814, one direct vote is counted for each item voted for on theballot, after which a confirmation message is sent to the direct voter,block 818. If the check reveals that the identification is improper,block 812 to block 816, there is notification of either:

-   -   A) the voter;    -   B) a human (or automated) troubleshooter; or    -   C) both.        One or more of these notified entities may then further address        whether the identification which was presented at the time of        the vote should be accepted or not.

Embodiments of the invention in which ID. databases have awrite-once-only medium for information storage (e.g. EPROMS and EEPROMSand other devices known in the art) will minimize the chance oftampering. On the other hand, they will require the greatest amount ofeffort (replacement or adding additional memory units) for updating(e.g. as new names are added to the database). They are thus moreattractive for a remote station ID. database than for a RS or VCS ID.database.

Embodiments of the invention in which more than one voter votes at a VRSare possible. In such a circumstance, if there is an ID. database at theVRS (as shown, for example, in FIG. 7), the database must contain theID. of each potential voter. An extreme case of this would be to use theVRS as a voting machine in a conventional political election—e.g. theelection of a state or federal official. (This use—unrelated to anyre-distribution of the power of one or more elected representatives—isdifferent than the task of serving as the conduit for the votes ofdirect voters as defined in Ser. No. 11/595,655.) The VRS architectureshown in either FIG. 6, FIG. 7, or an architecture in which voter ID. isconfirmed at both the VRS and the VCS would each be possible.

Embodiments of the invention are possible in which one direct voter mayuse more than one VRS (i.e. one VRS at one time, and one at anothertime). This situation may occur when the voter has multiple cell phonesand/or computers. In embodiments of the invention analogous to someversions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7, in which the ID. databaseresides only at the VRS (i.e. not at both the VRS and the VCS), each VRSused by the direct voter would have to have a copy of the ID. database.

Embodiments of the invention in which the ID. database is part of boththe VRS and the VCS are possible. In such a situation, identityconfirmation at the time of voting could be:

-   -   A) only by the VRS;    -   B) only by the VCS;    -   C) only if both the VCS and the VRS indicate proper identity;    -   D) if either the VCS or the VRS indicates proper identity; or    -   E) more complex arrangements (e.g. identification is accepted if        either (i) VCS indicates a perfect match, or (ii) if VCS        indicates a near-perfect match and VRS indicates a perfect        match.

Other methods of using the identification data from multiple sites,including

-   -   A) the use of the RS database and other databases; and    -   B) the—in principle—limitless number of ways of weighting the        goodness of the match at each site will be obvious to those        skilled in the art.        Internet Voting

The rapid growth of internet users and uses makes such medium a possiblevenue for the roll-out of a system of more direct and substantialparticipation of voters in government decision making. One or morewebsites based on either a single bank of servers and computers, or adistributed set of them would allow direct voters to vote (with tallymethods described in Ser. No. 11/595,655), propose and debatelegislation, and interact with legislators.

All users of the site would need to register in advance, as discussedhereinabove for voters, and as is shown schematically in FIGS. 10 to 15.

As shown in the flow diagram of FIG. 16, in a basic version of theapproach, a person who wishes to use the website signs on, confirmstheir identity (or signs on by confirming their identity, as discussedhereinabove). They may then access a ballot which indicates votingchoices such as an election of a government official, a yes/no vote onlegislation, a confirmation of an agreement such as a treaty, aconfirmation of an appointment of a government official, etc. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the voter receives a confirmationof the vote, as indicated hereinabove.

FIG. 17 shows one possible configuration of a user screen on thewebsite. The central portion of this screen shows either the text oflegislation to be voted upon, or an election choice (e.g. the selectionof candidate). It may also show supportive material such as relatedlegislation, the debate of elected representatives, other supportmaterials, the views of political commentators, lobbyists and othervoters. It may provide access to on-line discussion with other voters.Because of the need for proper user identification, there may be anongoing need to renew/refresh identification data by communicating witha registrar, and by reviewing identifying information already on file.The screen, as shown, is touch sensitive, so that a voter may vote bytouching the “vote” box. Keyboard entries and spoken ones are possibleas well. An user examination may be performed via the screen. Onepurpose of the examination would be to confirm that the user is who hesays he is. Another use, in one embodiment of the invention, would be toask the user one or more test questions concerning material in thelegislation, in order to determine that the user has an understanding ofthe matter to be voted on. Such an examination could be applied in anon-discriminatory fashion to users and to established representatives(such as Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives), toassure that all voters have familiarized themselves with the matter tobe voted on. The answer or answers and the value of a “passing” gradewould be established in advance. The examination questions could beinputted either at a central location, at a dedicated location or at avoting machine by a person with proper access to the system.

FIG. 18 shows a flow diagram for using the site illustrating some of theaforementioned features, in addition to the basic operation shown by theflow diagram of FIG. 16. The figure shows two possible approaches to thetest issue. Option 1 does not exclude a person from voting because of alow test score; In this case, the test is solely to let the person knowthe extent of their knowledge of the material being voted on. Withoption 2, a potential voter may be denied from a vote based on poor testperformance. Many variations are possible, including (a) allowing forre-test in the event of poor performance, (b) time limits for userresponses, (c) allowing the test taker to dispute whether the “correct”answer is indeed correct, etc. Besides the aforementioned voteconfirmation, there may be a test confirmation as well.

Besides the aforementioned registration and identification procedures,and besides other data management security procedures and techniquesknown in the art, controllable physical barriers to excludenon-registered users are another way to increase security. One sucharrangement is shown in FIG. 19. In order for a user to gain access, toeither a server or a voting machine, one or more electronicallycontrollable doors, responsive to the inputting of proper useridentification, is required. The user is allowed access to an outer room900, if identification inputted into ID. device 906 is a correct matchfor identification information on file. If the match is correct, door903 opens door 902 under the control of electromechanical apparatus 903.Not shown in the figure, is the control of 903, which would be either bya computer which checks for an ID. match or by a person. Once in space900, door 902 is closed behind the user, and a second identificationprocess ensues. The entry of proper ID. information into 908 results in905 opening door 904 in a fashion analogous to the opening of 902.Cameras and other detection devices within 900 (not shown) allow for theexclusion of an inappropriate, nonregistered and/or non-identifiedperson from 910 who may have entered 900 along with a properlyregistered/identified person. 910 houses either a voting machine (i.e.VRS [voter remote station] or VCD [voter computation/communicationdevice]) or a server for the voting system. Embodiments of the inventionwith only a single door control are possible. Embodiments in which amanager must first enter 910, before a user can enter are also possible.

There has thus been shown and described a novel apparatus and system forallowing a remote voter to vote directly in an election which fulfillsall the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subjectinvention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the artafter considering this specification and the accompanying drawings whichdisclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to becovered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for exchanging information between aterminal of a potential user and a server for securely executing atransaction comprising: (1) a potential user (PU) terminal comprising:(A) a PU terminal processor, (B) a digital camera, and (C) a PU terminalmemory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the PUprocessor causes the PU processor to perform the steps of: transmittinga request for transaction information to a server, the transactioninformation comprising a plurality of options; receiving and displayingthe transaction information; detecting a selection by a potential user,of at least one of the plurality of options; based on the detecting ofthe selection, causing the digital camera to capture a biological imageof the potential user and the selection of the at least one of theplurality of options by the potential user wherein the biological imagecomprises at least one of: finger, face, or iris print; creating adigital file comprising the captured biological image and the selectionof the at least one of the plurality of options by the potential user;and transmitting alphanumeric information of the potential user and thedigital file to the server; and (2) the server comprising: (A) a serverprocessor, and (B) a server memory storing executable instructions that,when executed by the server processor causes the server processor toperform the steps of: receiving identification information of aregistered user, from a terminal of the registered user, wherein saididentification information comprises biological information including atleast one of a finger, face, or iris print and alphanumeric informationpertaining to a person allowed to execute the transaction; receiving thetransaction information from a transaction content computer; receivingthe request for the transaction information from the PU terminal;transmitting the transaction information to the PU terminal; retrievingthe identification information using the alphanumeric information of thepotential user; comparing the biological image of the digital file withthe corresponding biological information from the retrievedidentification information; and determining a match between thebiological image and the corresponding biological information from theidentification information; and based on the match, retrieving, by theserver, the selection of the at least one of the plurality of optionsfrom the digital file and executing a transaction represented by theselection.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said serverprocessor is configured to provide communication access to the Internetand wherein said server memory further comprises instructions that, whenexecuted by the server processor, cause the processor to perform thestep of providing and receiving information to and from the Internet. 3.The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the server memory furthercomprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor causethe processor to perform the step of providing an interactive web siteto the Internet.
 4. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said PUterminal is selected from the group comprising: (a) a desktop computer,(b) a laptop computer, (c) a handheld computer, (d) a hard-wiredtelephone, (e) a portable telephone, (f) a hand-held telephone, and (g)a cellular telephone.
 5. The system defined in claim 1, wherein saidbiological image of the potential user and the biologic informationfurther comprise image information selected from the group consistingof: (a) a palm print, (b) a retinal pattern, (c) a face and a torso, (d)a face, a torso and a hand, and (e) a signature.
 6. The system definedin claim 5, wherein said digital camera is configured to provide to saidPU terminal processor a plurality of composite images of the potentialuser and the selection, each image showing contiguous regions of eachof: (a) the face, (b) the torso, and (c) the hand of said potential useras it inputs at least one of (i) said signature, and (ii) saidselection; wherein the server memory further comprises instructionsthat, when executed by the server processor cause the processor toperform the step of comparing said images showing said contiguousregions to images with the corresponding biological informationretrieved from the identification information; whereby said matchdetermination comprises determining that said face, torso and hand eachbelong to a particular potential user; and thereby determining that theselection has been made by said registered user.
 7. The system definedin claim 6, wherein the image of said face further comprises an image ofat least one of (i) an iris, and (ii) a retinal image of said potentialuser.
 8. The system defined in claim 5, wherein said digital camera isconfigured to provide to said PU terminal processor a plurality ofcomposite images of the potential user and the selection, each imageshowing contiguous regions of each of: (a) at least one of a fingerprintand a palm print, and (b) a hand of said potential user as it inputssaid selection; wherein the server memory further comprises instructionsthat, when executed by the server processor cause the processor toperform the step of comparing said images showing said contiguousregions to images with the corresponding biological informationretrieved from the identification information; whereby said matchdetermination comprises determining that said hand and at least one ofsaid fingerprint and said palm print each belong to a particularpotential user; and thereby determining that the selection has been madeby said registered user.
 9. The system defined in claim 5, wherein saiddigital camera is configured to provide to said PU terminal processor aplurality of composite images of the potential user and the selection,each image showing contiguous regions of each of: (a) at least one of afingerprint and a palm print, on a first hand of said user, (b) thetorso and arms of said user, and (c) another hand of said user as itinputs at least one of (i) said signature, and (ii) said selection;wherein the server memory further comprises instructions that, whenexecuted by the server processor cause the processor to perform the stepof comparing said images showing said contiguous regions to images withthe corresponding biological information retrieved from theidentification information; whereby said match determination comprisesdetermining that said other hand and at least one of said fingerprintand said palm each belong to the same user; and thereby determining thatthe transaction selection has been made by said user.
 10. The systemdefined in claim 1, wherein said server further comprises: (a) a serverinput device, couple to said server processor, entering alphanumericinformation pertaining to a registered user of the system; and (b) aserver digital camera, couple to said server processor, enteringbiologic information pertaining to said registered user of the system;and Wherein said server memory further comprises instructions that, whenexecuted by the server processor cause the processor to perform the stepof storing said alphanumeric information and said respective biologicinformation, in said server memory.
 11. The system defined in claim 1,wherein: (A) said terminal of a potential user comprises a votingmachine of a potential voting person; (B) said transaction informationcomprises a plurality of possible voting options; (C) said selection isa selected voting option by the potential voting person from among aplurality of possible voting options; (D) said registered user is aregistered voting person; and (E) the server memory further comprisesinstructions that, when executed by the server processor causes theserver processor to determine a total number of selections of eachrespective option, each selection by one of a plurality of registeredvoting persons.
 12. The system defined in claim 11, wherein: (1) saidplurality of possible voting options comprise choices concerning aproposed legislative body decision, to be determined by votingselections, and to be applied to a legal jurisdiction; (2) a pluralityof states have been established within the jurisdiction; (3) at leastone voting district has been established within each state, each stateand each district having a plurality of residents residing within therespective state and district; (4) a direct voting legislative branchhas been established whose powers include voting on legislative bodydecisions to ensure that a will of registered users is known and actedupon in a substantially real-time basis, said legislative branchcomprising registered users who are residents of the jurisdiction; saidlegislative branch comprising a first unit and a second unit, said firstunit determining a first voting position based on the selections of theregistered users who are residents of each respective district, saidsecond unit determining a second voting position based on the selectionsof the registered users who are residents of each respective state; (5)an executive branch has been established which comprises a plurality ofofficers including a President whose powers include the nomination ofcertain judges, the proposal of legislative body decisions and the vetoof legislative body decisions; (6) a judicial branch has beenestablished to interpret the laws of the jurisdiction, said judicialbranch comprising a plurality of justices and judges; (7) each of aplurality of said registered users may provide a registered user votingselection by selecting a voting option in favor of, or a voting optionagainst the proposed legislative body decision; (8) said alphanumericinformation pertaining to a person allowed to execute the transactionincludes information pertaining to a district and a state of residenceof the authorized person; (9) said server memory further comprisesinstructions that, when executed by the server processor cause theprocessor to perform the steps of: determining a district votingposition pertaining to each district by determining a total number ofregistered user voting selections, pertaining to the respectivedistrict, in favor of, and by determining a total number of registereduser voting selections, pertaining to the respective district, againstthe proposed legislative body decision; determining a state votingposition pertaining to each state by determining a total number ofregistered user voting selections, pertaining to the respective state,in favor of, and by determining a total number of registered user votingselections, pertaining to the respective state, against the proposedlegislative body decision; and determining acceptance of the proposedlegislative body decision in the jurisdiction by determining: (i) thefirst voting position, based on a total number of district votingpositions in favor of, and a total number of district voting positionsopposed to the proposed legislative body decision; and (ii) the secondvoting position, based on a total number of state voting positions infavor of, and a total number of state voting positions opposed to theproposed legislative body decision.
 13. The system defined in claim 12,wherein said jurisdiction is the United States of America.
 14. Thesystem defined in claim 11, wherein: (1) said plurality of possibleoptions comprise choices concerning a proposed legislative bodydecision, to be determined by voting selections, and applied to a legaljurisdiction; (2) a plurality of states have been established within thejurisdiction; (3) at least one voting district has been establishedwithin each state, each state and each district having a plurality ofresidents residing within the respective state and district; (4) twosenators representing each state are each entitled to provide a senatorvoting selection pertaining to the proposed legislative body decision onbehalf of the residents in the respective state; (5) a representativerepresenting each district is entitled to provide a representativevoting selection pertaining to the proposed legislative body decision onbehalf of the residents in the respective district; (6) registered usershave been registered to vote within each district in each state; (7) theserver memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by theserver processor cause the processor to perform the step of receiving,from at least one legislator terminal, each senator voting selectioncomprising an option in favor of, or an option against the proposedlegislative body decision; (8) the server memory further comprisesinstructions that, when executed by the server processor cause theprocessor to perform the step of receiving, from the at least onelegislator terminal, each representative voting selection comprising anoption in favor of, or an option against the proposed legislative bodydecision; (9) registered users provide voting selections by selecting avoting option in favor of, or a voting option against the proposedlegislative body decision; (10) said server memory further comprisesinstructions that, when executed by the server processor cause theprocessor to perform the steps of: (a) determining sums of the senatorvoting selections pertaining to each voting option, to determine a finalsenate majority vote in favor of, or against the proposed legislativebody decision; (b) determining sums of the representative votingselections pertaining to each voting option, to determine a finalrepresentative majority vote in favor of, or against the proposedlegislative body decision; (c) determining a number of registered uservoting selections in favor of, and a number of registered user votingselections against the proposed legislative body decision to determine afinal registered user majority vote in favor of, or against the proposedlegislative body decision; and (d) determining acceptance of theproposed legislative body decision in dependence upon the final senatemajority vote, the final representative majority vote and the finalregistered user majority vote.
 15. The system defined in claim 14,wherein said jurisdiction is the United States of America.
 16. Thesystem defined in claim 11, wherein: (1) said plurality of possiblevoting options comprise choices concerning a proposed legislative bodydecision, to be determined by voting selections, and applied to a legaljurisdiction; (2) a plurality of states have been established within alegal jurisdiction; (3) at least one voting district has beenestablished within each state; (4) each state and each voting districtcomprise a plurality of residents residing within the respective stateand district; (5) a government has been established to govern said legaljurisdiction comprising: (a) an elected legislative branch whose powersinclude voting on proposed legislative body decisions, said legislativebranch comprising: (i) two senators representing each state who are eachentitled to provide a senate voting selection pertaining to proposedlegislative body decisions on behalf of the residents in each respectivestate, and (ii) a representative representing each district who isentitled to provide a representative voting selection pertaining toproposed legislative body decisions on behalf of the residents in eachrespective district; (b) an executive branch to execute the laws of thejurisdiction among other powers and responsibilities, said executivebranch comprising a plurality of officers including a President whosepowers include: (i) the nomination of certain judges, (ii) the proposalof legislation, and (iii) the veto of legislation accepted by theelected legislative branch, provided that a second senate vote and asecond representative vote do not reverse said veto; (c) a judicialbranch to interpret the laws of the jurisdiction, said judicial branchcomprising a plurality of justices and judges; and (d) a direct voterbranch to ensure that a will of registered users is known and acted uponin a substantially real-time basis, said direct voter branch comprisingregistered users who have been registered to provide voting selectionspertaining to the proposed legislative body decision; (6) each of aplurality of said registered users may provide a voting selection byselecting a voting option in favor of, or a voting option against theproposed legislative body decision; (7) said server memory furthercomprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor causethe processor to perform the steps of: (a) determining a number ofregistered user voting selections in favor of, and a number ofregistered user voting selections against the proposed legislative bodydecision; and (b) determining acceptance of the proposed legislativebody decision by the direct voter branch in dependence upon the numberof registered user voting selections in favor of, and the number ofregistered user voting selections against the proposed legislative bodydecision.
 17. The system defined in claim 16, wherein said jurisdictionis the United States of America.
 18. The system defined in claim 11, (1)said plurality of possible voting options comprise choices concerning aproposed legislative body decision, to be determined by votingselections, and applied to a legal jurisdiction; (2) a government hasbeen established to govern said legal jurisdiction comprising: (a) adirect voting legislative branch whose powers include voting on proposedlegislative body decisions to ensure that a will of the registered usersis known and acted upon in a substantially real-time basis, saidlegislative branch comprising registered users who have been registeredto provide voting selections pertaining to proposed legislative bodydecisions on behalf of the residents of the jurisdiction; (b) anexecutive branch which comprises a plurality of officers including aPresident whose powers include: (i) the nomination of certain judges,(ii) the proposal of legislative body decisions, and (iii) thedisapproval of legislative body decisions; (c) a judicial branch tointerpret the laws of the jurisdiction, said judicial branch comprisinga plurality of justices and judges; (3) each of a plurality of saidregistered users may provide a registered user voting selection byselecting a voting option in favor of, or a voting option against theproposed legislative body decision; (4) said server memory furthercomprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor causethe processor to perform the steps of: (a) determining a number ofvoting selections in favor of, and a number of voting selections againstthe proposed legislative body decision; and (b) determining acceptanceof the proposed legislative body decision by the legislative branch independence upon the number of registered user voting selections in favorof, and against the proposed legislative body decision.
 19. The systemdefined in claim 18, wherein said jurisdiction is the United States ofAmerica.
 20. The system defined in claim 11, wherein: (1) said pluralityof possible options comprise choices concerning a proposed legislativebody decision, to be determined by voting selections, and applied to alegal jurisdiction; (2) a plurality of voting districts have beenestablished within the jurisdiction, each district having a plurality ofresidents residing within the respective district, and each districtproviding one district vote for the purpose of determining legislativebody decisions; (3) a representative from each district is entitled toprovide a voting selection pertaining to proposed legislative bodydecisions on behalf of residents who do not provide a voting selectionin each respective district; (4) registered users who have beenregistered within each district may provide a voting selectionpertaining to said proposed legislative body decisions; (5) the servermemory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the serverprocessor cause the processor to perform the step of receiving, from atleast one legislator terminal, a voting selection of each representativecomprising an option in favor of, or an option against the proposedlegislative body decision; (6) registered users in at least one districtprovide a voting selection by selecting a voting option in favor of, ora voting option against the proposed legislative body decision; (7) saidserver memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by theserver processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a)determining a number of registered user voting selections in favor of,and a number of registered user voting selections against the proposedlegislative body decision, pertaining to each district; (b) determininga district vote pertaining to each district by (i) classifying thedistrict vote as in favor of the option indicated by the respectiverepresentative voting selection upon determining that the number ofregistered users in the district voting differently than the respectiverepresentative does not exceed a given number; and (ii) classifying thedistrict vote as opposed to the option indicated by the respectiverepresentative voting selection upon determining that the number ofregistered users in the district voting differently than the respectiverepresentative exceeds the given number; and (c) determining acceptanceof the proposed legislative body decision in dependence upon the numberof district votes classified as in favor of and as opposed to theproposed legislative body decision.
 21. The system defined in claim 11,wherein: (1) said plurality of possible options comprise choicesconcerning a proposed legislative body decision, to be determined byvoting selections, and applied to a legal jurisdiction; (2) a pluralityof voting districts have been established within the jurisdiction, eachdistrict having a plurality of residents residing within the respectivedistrict, and each district providing a total of one district vote forthe purpose of determining legislative body decisions; (3) arepresentative from each district is designated who is entitled toprovide a voting selection pertaining to proposed legislative bodydecisions on behalf of residents who do not provide a voting selection,in the respective district; (4) registered users who have beenregistered within each district may provide a voting selectionpertaining to said proposed legislative body decisions; (5) the servermemory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the serverprocessor cause the processor to perform the steps of receiving, from atleast one legislator terminal, a voting selection of each of a pluralityof said representatives in favor of, or against the proposed legislativebody decision; (6) registered users in a respective district providevotes by selecting a voting option in favor of, or a voting optionagainst the proposed legislative body decision; (7) said server memoryfurther comprises instructions that, when executed by the serverprocessor cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) determining anumber of registered user voting selections in favor of, and a number ofregistered user voting selections against the proposed legislative bodydecision, pertaining to each respective district; (b) determining anumber of oppositional registered user voting selections pertaining toeach district as those registered user voting selections which are inopposition to a position represented by the respective representative;(c) receiving, from a census computer a number of residents in eachdistrict and determining an anti-representative fraction of eachdistrict vote as the number of oppositional registered user votingselections pertaining to the respective district divided by the numberof residents in the respective district; (d) determining apro-representative fraction of each district vote as a fraction whosenumerator is (i) a number of residents in the respective district minus(ii) the number of oppositional registered user voting selectionspertaining to the respective district, and whose denominator is thenumber of residents in the respective district; (e) determining a sum ofthe fractional district vote in favor of the proposed legislative bodydecision as a sum of (i) the pro-representative fraction of the districtvote pertaining to each district in which said district representativeprovided a voting selection in favor of said proposed legislative bodydecision and (ii) the anti-representative fraction of the district votepertaining to each district in which said district representativeprovided a voting selection against said proposed legislative bodydecision; and (f) determining acceptance of the proposed legislativebody decision in dependence upon the sum of each of the fractionaldistrict votes in favor of the proposed legislative body decision. 22.The system defined in claim 11, wherein: (1) said plurality of possibleoptions choices concerning a proposed legislative body decision to bedetermined by voting selections, and applied to a legal jurisdiction;(2) a plurality of voting districts have been established within thejurisdiction, each district having a plurality of residents residingwithin the respective district, and each district providing one districtvote for the purpose of determining legislative body decisions; (3) arepresentative from each district is entitled to provide a votingselection pertaining to a proposed legislative body decision on behalfof residents who do not provide a voting selection, in the respectivedistrict; (4) registered users who have been registered within eachdistrict may provide a voting selection pertaining to said proposedlegislative body decision; (5) the server memory further comprisesinstructions that, when executed by the server processor cause theprocessor to perform the step of receiving, from at least one legislatorterminal, a voting selection of said providing representative,comprising an option in favor of, or an option against the proposedlegislative body decision; (6) registered users in at least one districtprovide voting selections by selecting a voting option in favor of, or avoting option against the proposed legislative body decision; (7) saidserver memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by theserver processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a)determining a number of registered user voting selections in favor of,and a number of registered user voting selections against the proposedlegislative body decision in each district; (b) determining, in eachdistrict, the district vote: (i) by determining a total number ofregistered user voting selections in favor of the legislative bodydecision; and upon determining that said total exceeds a first givennumber for that district, classifying the respective district vote as adistrict vote in favor of the proposed legislative body decision; (ii)by determining a total number of registered user voting selectionsagainst the legislative body decision; and upon determining that saidtotal exceeds said first given number for that district, classifying therespective district vote as a district vote against the proposedlegislative body decision; (iii) upon determining that each of (I) thetotal number of registered user voting selections in favor of saiddecision does not exceed said first given number and (II) the totalnumber of registered user voting selections against said decision doesnot exceed said first given number and upon receiving, from thelegislator terminal, the voting selection of the providingrepresentative, by classifying the respective district vote as theoption indicated by the voting selection of the representative; (iv)upon determining that each of (I) the total number of registered uservoting selections in favor of said decision does not exceed said firstgiven number and (II) the total number of registered user votingselections against said decision does not exceed said first givennumber, and upon determining the absence of a receipt of the votingselection of the respective representative, and that the number ofregistered user voting selections in favor of said proposed legislativebody decision exceeds a second given number for that district, byclassifying the respective district vote as a district vote in favor ofsaid proposed legislative body decision; and (v) upon determining thateach of (I) the total number of registered user voting selections infavor of said decision does not exceed said first given number and (II)the total number of registered user voting selections against saiddecision does not exceed said first given number, and upon determiningthe absence of a receipt of the voting selection of the respectiverepresentative and that the number of registered user voting selectionsagainst the proposed legislative body decision exceeds a second givennumber for that district, by classifying the respective district vote asa district vote against the proposed legislative body decision; and (c)determining a sum of the number of said district votes classified as infavor, and said district votes classified as against the proposedlegislative body decision, and determining acceptance of the proposedlegislative body decision is to be accepted in dependence upon said sumsof district votes.
 23. The system defined in claim 11, wherein: (1) saidplurality of possible options comprise choices concerning a proposedlegislative body decision to be determined by voting selections, andapplied to a legal jurisdiction; (2) a plurality of voting districtshave been established within the jurisdiction, each district having aplurality of residents residing within the respective district, and eachdistrict providing two district votes for the purpose of determining aproposed legislative body decision; (3) two representatives from eachdistrict are each entitled to provide a voting selection pertaining toproposed legislative body decisions on behalf of residents in eachrespective district who do not provide a voting selection; (4)registered users who have been registered within each district mayprovide a voting selection pertaining to said proposed legislative bodydecisions; (5) the server memory further comprises instructions that,when executed by the server processor cause the processor to perform thestep of receiving, from at least one legislator terminal, a votingselection of each of a plurality of said representatives, each votingselection comprising an option in favor of, or an option against aproposed legislative body decision; (6) registered users in at least onedistrict provide voting selections by selecting a voting option in favorof, or a voting option against the proposed legislative body decision;(7) the server memory further comprises instructions that, when executedby the server processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: (A)determining a receipt, from said at least one legislator terminal, ofidentical voting selections from each of the two representatives of agiven district; (a) determining a number of oppositional registered uservoting selections pertaining to each district as those registered uservoting selections which are in opposition to a voting selection selectedby said two representatives in said given district; (b) receiving, froma census computer, a number of residents in each district anddetermining an anti-representative fraction of each district vote as thenumber of respective oppositional registered user divided by the numberof residents in the given district; (c) determining a pro-representativefraction of each district vote as a fraction whose numerator is (i) anumber of residents in the respective district minus (ii) the number ofoppositional registered user voting selections pertaining to therespective district and whose denominator is the number of residents inthe respective district; (d) equating a fractional district vote infavor of the proposed legislative body decision in each district with(i) the pro-representative fraction of the respective district vote,upon receiving, from said legislator terminal voting selections in favorof said proposed legislative body decision and with (ii) theanti-representative fraction of the respective district vote, uponreceiving, from said legislator terminal voting selections against saidproposed legislative body decision; (B) determining a receipt, from saidat least one legislator terminal, of opposing voting selections of thetwo representatives of a given district and thereafter determining thefractional district vote for that district in favor of the proposedlegislative body decision as the fraction whose numerator is the numberof registered user voting selections pertaining to said district infavor of said proposed legislative body decision, and whose denominatoris the total number of residents in said district; (C) determining a sumof all fractional district votes in favor of said proposed legislativebody decision; and (D) selecting a final counting method from the groupconsisting of (I) a summation of fractional district votes; and (II) aconversion of fractional district votes to integral district votes,followed by the summation of integral district votes; (E) upon selectingthe summation of fractional votes, determining said proposed legislativebody decision is to be accepted in dependence upon a sum of thefractional district votes in favor of the proposed legislative bodydecision; and (F) upon selecting the conversion of fractional districtvotes to integral votes: (a) pertaining to said respective district: (i)determining said integral district vote as two votes in favor of saidproposed legislative body decision upon determining that said respectivefractional district vote exceeds a first value, (ii) determining saidintegral district vote as one vote in favor of said proposed legislativebody decision upon determining that said respective fractional districtvote exceeds a second value but does not exceed said first value, and(iii) determining said integral district vote as zero votes in favor ofsaid proposed legislative body decision upon determining that saidrespective fractional district vote does not exceed said second value;and (b) determining acceptance of the proposed legislative body decisionin dependence upon a sum of the integral district votes in favor of thelegislative body decision.
 24. The system defined in claim 11, whereinsaid transaction information further comprises information related tosaid voting options.
 25. The system defined in claim 1, wherein saidtransaction is a contract, and said transaction choice is arepresentation of an intent by said user to enter into said contract.26. The system defined in claim 25, wherein said contract is for thepurchase and sale of goods or services.
 27. The system defined in claim1, wherein said transaction entails an exchange of information, andwherein said information is selected from the group: medicalinformation, legal information, political information, and financialinformation.
 28. A method for exchanging information between a serverand a terminal of a potential user for securely executing a transactioncomprising: (a) receiving, by the server, identification information ofa registered user, from a terminal of the registered user, wherein saididentification information comprises biological information including atleast one of a finger, face, or iris print and alphanumeric informationpertaining to a person allowed to execute the transaction; (b)receiving, by the server, transaction information, from a transactioncontent computer wherein the transaction information comprises aplurality of options; (c) transmitting, by a terminal of a potentialuser, a request for the transaction information to the server; (d)receiving, by the server, the request; (e) transmitting, by the server,the transaction information to the terminal of a potential user; (f)displaying, by the terminal of a potential user, the transmittedtransaction information including the plurality of options; (g)detecting, by the terminal of a potential user, a selection by apotential user of at least one of the plurality of options; (h) based onthe detecting of the selection, activating, by the terminal of apotential user, a digital camera; (i) capturing, by the digital camera,a biological image of the potential user and the selection of the atleast one of the plurality of options by the potential user wherein thebiological image comprises at least one of: finger, face, or iris print;(j) creating, by the terminal of a potential user, a digital filecomprising the captured biological image and the selection of the atleast one of the plurality of options by the potential user; (k)transmitting, by the terminal of a potential user, alphanumericinformation of the potential user and the digital file to the server;(l) retrieving, by the server, the identification information using thealphanumeric information of the potential user; comparing the biologicalimage of the digital file with the corresponding biological informationfrom the retrieved identification information; and determining a matchbetween the biological image and the corresponding biologicalinformation from the identification information; and (m) based on thematch, retrieving, by the server, the selection of the at least one ofthe plurality of options from the digital file and executing atransaction represented by the selection.
 29. The method of claim 28,wherein said step (f) includes displaying information representing saidplurality of options on a display screen.
 30. The method of claim 28,wherein: capturing by the digital camera further comprises capturing aplurality of images, each including the biological image of thepotential user and the selection of the at least one of the plurality ofoptions by the potential user; the created and transmitted digital filefurther comprises said plurality of images; comparing further comprisescomparing at least one of the biological images of the digital file withthe retrieved biological information.
 31. The method of claim 28,wherein said biological information pertaining to a person allowed toexecute the transaction, and biologic information of the potential userfurther comprise information pertaining to a second biologic featureselected from the group comprising: (1) an image of a fingerprint, (2)an image of a palm, (3) an image of a retina, (4) an image of an iris,and (5) an image of a face.
 32. The method of claim 28, wherein saidbiological image further comprises intermediate body parts of saidpotential user, said intermediate body parts extending between apotential user body part inputting said selection and a potential userbody part which is a source of said at least one of: finger, face oriris print; whereby said biological image including said intermediatebody parts serves to prove that said inputting body part and said sourcebody part belong to the same potential user.
 33. The method of claim 28,wherein said transaction is a contract, and said transaction selectionis a representation of an intent by said user to enter into saidcontract.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said contract is for thepurchase and sale of goods or services.
 35. The method of claim 28,wherein said transaction entails an exchange of information, and whereinsaid information is selected from the group: medical information, legalinformation, political information, and financial information.
 36. Themethod of claim 28, wherein: (A) said transaction is a vote; (B) saidtransaction selection is a selection from among a plurality of votingoptions; and (C) executing a transaction represented by the selectionincludes determining, by the server, a sum of received selectionscorresponding to each voting option, each summed selection by one of aplurality of registered voting persons.